Pediatric Gastroenterology

Endoscopy

The pediatric gastroenterology specialists at the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver and associated organs.

An endoscopy is a procedure that allows medical staff to see the inside of the intestine from the mouth to beginning of the small intestine. The endoscope is a soft, flexible tube with a light and a camera on the end. Images are sent to a video screen for viewing.

An endoscopy is performed in special circumstances to detect irritation, identify areas of bleeding, remove swallowed foreign bodies such as coins, and obtain biopsy samples when food allergy, celiac disease other damage is suspected.

What to Expect

Your child will not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before the procedure.

You will arrive at the Ambulatory Procedure Center on the second floor of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

You and your child will go into the prep area, where an IV will be started.

When the doctor is ready to begin the procedure, you will accompany your child to the procedure room. You will sign a consent that allows us to perform the procedure.

Several monitoring devices will be placed on your child to monitor your child during the procedure. The nurse will give your child medication in the IV for sedation, which will allow your child sleep through the procedure.

Once your child is sedated, you will return to the waiting area while the procedure is performed.

During the procedure, the endoscope is placed into your child's mouth and advanced into the stomach. Pictures and biopsies will be obtained.

The procedure will take about 30 minutes. Your child will stay in our recovery area with you for about two hours. You will return home the same day.